Cleansing tablets for tooth prostheses

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an effervescent tablet for cleansing dental prostheses comprising an acidic component and an alkaline component, wherein one of said two components dissolves more slowly than the other component, with the more slowly dissolving component present in stoichiometric excess within the tablet, so that an initial acidic or alkaline pH is provided within the cleansing solution, with the pH gradually adjusting to the opposite alkaline or acidic region as the tablet effervesces.

I claim: 
     
       1. An effervescent cleansing tablet for a dental prosthesis comprising a faster dissolving acidic component which is a mixture of sodium bicarbonate, potassium persulfate, sulfamic acid, and citric acid, and a slower-dissolving alkaline component which is a mixture of sodium carbonate and magnesium hydroxycarbonate, said alkaline component present in stoichiometric excess within the tablet, said tablet providing an initial acidic pH in solution while effervescing and gradually adjusting to an alkaline pH.   
     
     
       2. The tablet of claim 1 additionally comprising cetyl ammonium bromide in said acidic component and polyvinyl alcohol in said alkaline component. 
     
     
       3. An effervescent cleansing tablet for a dental prosthesis, comprising a faster-dissolving acidic layer comprising a mixture of sulfamic acid, sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, sodium persulfate, polyethylene glycol, and a surface active substance, a slower-dissolving alkaline layer comprising a mixture of sodium carbonate, sodium pyrophosphate, potassium persulfate, a surface active substance, and a partial glyceride of a straight-chain vegetable fatty acid of eight to twelve carbon atoms in length, said alkaline layer present in stoichiometric excess over said acidic layer in said tablet, and   a layer comprising a mixture of anhydrous sodium sulfate, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, ascorbic acid, magnesium stearate, and proteolytic enzyme, said tablet providing an initial acidic pH in solution while effervescing and gradually adjusting to an alkaline pH.     
     
     
       4. A process for preparing an effervescent cleansing tablet for a dental prosthesis, comprising a distinct, faster-dissolving acidic layer and a distinct, slower-dissolving alkaline layer, which comprises the steps of (A) preparing a mixture of sulfamic acid, sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, sodium persulfate, polyethylene glycol and a surface active substance, forming the faster-dissolving acidic component,   (B) pre-pressing this acidic component (A) in a table press,   (C) preparing a mixture of sodium carbonate, sodium pyrophosphate, potassium persulfate, a surface active substance, and a partial glyceride of a straight-chain vegetable fatty acid of eight to twelve carbon atoms in length, forming the slower-dissolving alkaline component,   (D) depositing said alkaline component (C) onto the pre-pressed acidic component (B), and   (E) pressing said two components (D) in a tablet press.   
     
     
       5. A process for preparing an effervescent cleansing tablet comprising a distinct, faster-dissolving acidic layer, a distinct, slower-dissolving alkaline layer, and a distinct enzyme containing layer, comprising the steps of (A) preparing a mixture of ingredients forming the faster-dissolving acidic component,   (B) pre-pressing this acidic component (A) in a tablet press,   (C) preparing a mixture of ingredients forming the slower-dissolving alkaline component,   (D) depositing said alkaline component (C) onto the pre-pressed acidic component (B),   (E) pressing said two components (D) in a tablet press,   (F) preparing a mixture of anhydrous sodium sulfate, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, ascorbic acid, magnesium stearate, and proteolytic enzyme,   (G) depositing said enzyme-containing mixture (F) onto said pre-pressed alkaline component layer (D), and   (H) pressing all three components (G) in a tablet press to form a three-layered tablet.